Manchester United’s defeat to Newcastle United was not short of refereeing and VAR controversy.
Manchester United’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle United at St James’ Park burst into life in the stoppage time of the first half.
In a matter of minutes, Jacob Ramsey was sent off for simulation, Bruno Fernandes conceded a penalty which was converted by Anthony Gordon, and Casemiro scored an equaliser.
Referee Peter Bankes was at the heart of the drama and he was booed off by Newcastle supporters at the full-time whistle. However, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg spotted another incident which Dan Burn was lucky to escape from without punishment.
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Mark Clattenburg on Dan Burn elbow vs Man Utd
Early in the first half when both sides had 11 men and were at a stalemate, Bankes was called into action when Luke Shaw went down holding his face and accusing Burn of using an elbow. The incident was checked and cleared by VAR.
United in Focus spoke exclusively to Clattenburg about the incident, and he claimed that Burn was “very lucky” to escape punishment.
“Dan Burn is very lucky not to receive a yellow card for an illegal use of the arm in the face of Luke Shaw,” Clattenburg said.
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“There is holding and Burn is looking at the ball before moving his arm out and hitting Shaw in the face. For a red card to be issued, there has to be an element of force and malice used and this normally comes in the act of a clenched fist and knowingly putting his elbow into his opponent’s face.
“I believe in this case, Burn is freeing himself of the hold and catching his opponent with his arm and not his elbow while looking at the ball. This should have been punished as a yellow card for reckless use of the arm while challenging for the ball.”
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MUTV pundit called for Dan Burn red card vs Man Utd
While Clattenburg believes Burn should have picked up a yellow card for his elbow incident, MUTV pundit David May believes the punishment could have been even worse.
During match commentary, May said: “That is a straight red. He does actually elbow him.”
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Journalist Adam Crafton on X also wrote: “Unclear to me how Dan Burn has not been sent off for that elbow.”
Newcastle supporters and players felt hard done by for the red card decision against Ramsey, but they can consider themselves lucky that they didn’t actually have another player sent off against United.
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